ContiTech Rotafrix Friction Wheels

Friction Rings & Friction Wheels for Rolling Contact Drives and Drum Drives

ROTAFRIX® friction rings and friction wheels are particularly well-suited to use in drum drives. This special type of rubber rolling contact drive is used in many areas of mechanical engineering as an economical form of drive, for example for tube mills and ball mills. Rubber rolling contact drives are economical and efficient, of simple construction, low-noise and maintenance-free. They are widely used by machinery and tool manufacturers, in conveying technology and for drum drives.

Technical Specifications

Economical Drive Solutions



Friction Wheels


The best-known examples of friction-locking power transmission are the vehicle tire/road and wheel/rail systems. The circumferential force required for propulsion is transmitted by the ROTAFRIX® friction wheel to the rail by friction locking. The transmissible frictional force is a function of the wheel load and the coefficient of friction between the wheel and rail. The operation of a rubber rolling contact drive is significantly affected by the correct installation of the rolling contact gears.

ROTAFRIX® friction wheels consist of a rubber compound and a metal hub.

Rubber compound

The properties of the rubber compound are matched to the special properties of friction wheels. ROTAFRIX® friction wheels are available in the following version (delivery terms and purchase quantities for custom versions are available on request):

Metal Hub

The metal hub is manufactured of commercially available 9 S 20 K free-machining steel. The hub has two center holes for subsequent machining. The metal hub is wider than the friction lining on one side to permit proper mounting of the rolling contact gear.

Friction Rings

ROTAFRIX® friction rings are the result of many years’ experience in the field of drive technology. With their special elastomer materials, they offer optimal properties for high-performance rolling-contact drives with high transmission capacities.

ROTAFRIX® friction rings consist of a contact face, a base layer and a strength member.

Contact Face

The properties of the surface layer are matched to the special requirements imposed on it. A choice of two abrasion-resistant compounds is therefore available:

RM

RS

Base Layer

The base layer consists of a special hard elastomer material. It is firmly bonded to the contact face by means of vulcanization and contains the strength member. The base layer is manufactured for both cylindrical and tapered hub finishes.

Strength Member

The strength member consists of steel reinforcing wires. These keep the friction ring under constant tension and ensure a particularly firm fit on the hub.
Friction rings are sold without the hub.

Guide Pulleys

ROTAFRIX® guide pulley

ROTAFRIX® guide pulleys made of solid rubber, optionally in combination with damping elements, are ideal for guiding hoisting cages and buckets. Continental has developed a special version which meets the durability requirements even at high conveying speeds of up to 20 m/s (72 km/h). The result is high-performance elements which are of simple construction, low-noise and maintenance-free. They are used for hoisting systems in mines.













ROTAFRIX® guide pulleys consist of a contact face, a base layer and a strength member.

Contact Face

The properties of the surface layer are matched to the special requirements imposed on it. A choice of two abrasion-resistant compounds is therefore available:

FM

FMH

Base Layer

The base layer consists of a special hard elastomer material. It is firmly bonded to the contact face by means of vulcanization and contains the strength member. The base layer is manufactured for both cylindrical and tapered hub finishes.

Strength Member

The strength member keeps the guide pulley under constant tension and ensures a particularly firm fit on the hub. In the FM finish the strength member consists of steel reinforcing wires, and in the FMH finish the strength member is a steel ring.
Guide pulleys are sold without the hub.